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Judicial Conduct Board
Anne H. Lokuta was brought before the Judicial Conduct Court of Pennsylvania in November of 2006 to answer charges of using court workers to do her personal bidding, openly displaying bias against some attorneys arguing before her, and publicly berating staff to cause mental distress. -
The Petition
The Juvenile Law Center Petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, seeking relief for alleged violation of the youth's civil rights. -
Reconsidered
The application of relief was denied , but was reconsidered in January of 2009 when the charges of corruption against the judges surfaced. -
Ciavarella and Conahan plead guilty
With a plea agreement, Ciavarella and Conahan plead guilty to federal charges of honest services fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. -
The Turn Against the Scandal
Lokuta aided the federal investigation into the "kids for cash" scheme prior to the determination of the diciplinary board, and a stay order was issued in March of 2009 by the state Supreme Court in light of the ongoing corruption investigations, halting Lokuta's removal and the election that was to be held in May to replace her. -
Robert Powell Pleads Guilty
Robert Powell, an attorney and co-owner of the two juvenile facilities at the heart of the scandal , pleaded guilty on July 1, 2009, to fail to report a felony and being an accessory to tax evasion conspiracy, in conection with $770,000 in kickbacks he paid to Ciavarella and Conahan in exchange for facilitating the development of his juvenile detention centers. -
Robert Mericle
the prominent real estate developer who built the two juvenile facilities, pleaded guilty on September 3, 2009 to failing to disclose a felony, -
48 Count Indictment
Ciavarella and Conahan got 48 charges against them including racketeering, fraud, money laundering, extortion, and bribery. -
Arraignment
Both judges were arraigned on the charges on September 25, 2009. -
The Guilty Plea
Conohan plead guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in July of 2010. -
The Conviction
Ciavarella was convicted on 12 of the 39 counts that he faced. -
The Sentence
On August 11, 2011, Ciavarella was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison as a result of his conviction. -
Time for Prison
On April 25, 2014, Robert Mericle was sentenced to serve one year in Federal Prison.
